Steam-engine



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

J. 13.8mm

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 291,794. Patented Jan. 8, 1884.

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4 SheetsSheet '2.

(No Model.)

J. B. SMITH. STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 8

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(No Model.)

J. B/SMITH.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 291,794. Patented Jan 8, 1884.

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(No Model.) I 4 Sheets'Sheet 4.

J. B. SMITH.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 291,794. Patented Jan. 8, 1 884.

UN TED STATES PATENT @rrrce.

JOHN B. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATZON forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,794, dated January 8, 1854.

Application filed June 18, lS83. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

My invention relates to an improvement in steam-engines; and it consists in certain pcculiarities of construction and arrangement,

whereby the cylinder is placed very low, the

parts are made stronger and more compact, and the connecting-bar between the two pitmen is made self-adjusting, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of my engine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 8 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a section through the cross-head. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one of the cross-head slides. Fig. 7 is a face view of the weighted crank, and Fig. 8 is a side view of the same.

A represents the main casting or cylinder of my engine,which is cast with a steam-chest, A A, upon each side, as seen in Fig. 2. The chest A is used for the admission of steam to the cylinder, and the chest A for the exhaust of the same, and each is fitted with a slide valve, A" A". The steam-chest A is connected at either end by ports (t a with the ends of the cylinder, behind the piston, and the valve A, as it travels back and forth, alternately opens and closes these ports for the admission of steam in the usual manner. The other steamchest, A-,is formed with two cored passages or of the valve A is provided with two grooves or passages, a a, which serve to connect the passages a a, the latter of which is connected also with the cxhaust-pipe-A leading to any desired condenser or to the outer air. The heads of the cylinder A are bolted on, as usual, and it is provided with a piston, B, the rod B of which extends upward through a suitable stuffing-box, b, of the usual or any of the wellknown forms. The whole of the main casting A is secured to or cast with a bed-plate or base, 0, in which is j ournaled the shaft C, formed with a cranked portion, 0", outside of which upon one end is the fly-wheel O, and on the other a driving-pulley, C.

It will be observed that each of the cranks O is provided withan extension, C, in rear of the erank-arm,which is of sufficient weight to counterbalance the weight of the connecting-rods, equalizing-bar, cross-head, and pitnien, and preserves a more even speed upon the shaft.

Upon the top of the casting A are secured four stanchions, D D D D, extending upward a suitable distance, and having their ends provided with vertical arms D, which form guides or ways, in which the sliding crosshead blocks travel. These guides are secured together at their upper and lower ends by metal straps (Z d, and connected transversely of the engine by similar straps,cl d, the whole forming a substantial and solid but light framework, in which the working parts of the engine are supported or guided.

J ournaled in boxes (1, upon the stanchions D, are two rock-shafts, E, each of which is provided with an arm, E connected by pitmen E with the valve-stems E" E", working the supply and exhaust valves, respectively. These rods move in guides or boxes E upon the main casting, which boxes are supplied with brasses e c, rendered adjustable for wear by set-screws c c.

Upon the outer ends of the rock-shafts Eare two similar arms, E, which are connected by. rods ff with two eccentrics, F F, upon the shaft 0, by means of which the valves are operated at the proper time, as will be readily understood. The upper end of the piston-rod B is formed with an enlargement or head B the upper part of which is formed with a semicircular recess, 2). In this rests the crosshead or equalizing-bar Gr, which isv formed with a semicircular enlargement, g, in its center, and is confined in its place upon the end of the rod B by vmeans of a correspondingshaped cap, B, connected to the head 13 by suitable clip-bolts, b the whole forming a strong and simple means of connection. The cross-head or equalizing-bar G is tapered from its cent al enlargement toward each end, where it passes through the slides G, and has secured upon its ends the pitmen G connecting it with the cranks G The slides G are formed with a recess, in each end, connected by small leads g with the outer or bearing edges, which recesses are to be filled with oil and waste, and form means of keeping the slides and their guides always supplied with a lubricant. The guides are also provided with loose gibs d, which are adjusted for wear by the set-screws (1*, as shown. The supplypipe A is furnished with a globe-valve, a set close down to the steam-chest, in order that no more steam may be behind the valve than is absolutely necessary, and has also a governor of any desired form. The steam-pipe a leading to the boiler is connected just above they globe-valve, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation is as follows: Steam being admitted to the chest A, the piston is driven down to the position shown in Fig. 2, when the valve A is drawn up, shutting off the steam from above and admitting it below the piston to reverse the motion. The exhaustvalve has at the same time been drawn up to close the lower exhaust-passage, a, at the lower end and make connection betweenthe passages a a" to exhaust from the upper end of the cylinder at the same time the small port a at the lower end of the exhaust-chest, is opened, as shown, to allow of live steam being admitted behind the valve A", in order to keep it properly seated. This operation is reversed when the piston has reached the upper end of its stroke, and is repeated indefinitely. It will be understood that the two valves A .A may be adjusted upon their stems to cut off or exhaust at any desired point; and this adjustment is rendered much easier by reason of their being entirely independent of each other. The thrust of the pitmen-rods G is direct in all cases, and should any inequalities of fitting or wear occur the equalizing-bar G will be drawn down at one end, thereby causing both rods to do an equal amount of work, and not place all the strain upon one, as would be the case if this bar were rigidly attached, while at the same time the bar is held perfectly rigid and firm in its socket or boxin The cylin- 6 ,der is placed immediately over the main shaft,

the weight low, and the engine is thereby adapted to high speed, either for stationary or marine purposes.

. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a steam-engine, a piston-rod provided with a boxing upon its outer end, having a circular recess therein opening upon either side, in combination with a cross-head or equalizing-bar, having its center formed to fit the interior of the boxing, and tapered toward either end, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a steam-engine, the piston-rod B, formed with the socketed head 13, and pro vided with a removable cap, B, in combina tion with the cross-bar or equalizer G, having the semicircular enlargement g, and tapered toward each end, the slides G and pitmen Gr connecting it with the cranked driving-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a steam-engine, the sliding blocks G, formed with a recess, 9, in either end, connected to the outer edges by oil-leads g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a steam-engine, a steam-chest and valve, for admitting steam to the engine, lo cated 011 one side of the cylinder, in combination with an exhaust-steam chest upon the opposite side, having small steamleads connecting the ends of the cylinder, and provided with a slide-valve, adapted to open one of said leads when closing the corresponding exhaustpassage, whereby sufficient live steam is admitted behind the valve to keep it properly seated, substantially as shown and described.

5. A steanrengine consisting, essentially, of a cylinder, bed-plate, and two steam-chests, cast in one piece, and placed directly over the driving-shaft, two slide-valves, one for admitting and the other for exhausting the steam, apiston and rod provided with a swiveled equalizing-bar, having slides working in guides supported upon the main casting, and connected by pitinen with the cranked drivingshaft, and two rock-shafts journaled in boxes on the guides and provided with arms connected to the supply and exhaust valves, and operated by eccentrics on the main shaft, all combined, constructed, and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

\V. O. ilIcAR'rIiUR, FRANK JOHNSON. 

